Method and apparatus for applying bottle closures



Dec. 13, 1927. 1,652,595

w. M. WEEKS ET AL METHOD AND APP ARATUS FOR APPLYING, BOTTLE GLOSURESFiled Jan.ll. 1925 2 sheets-sheet 1 Dec. 13, 1927. 1,652,595

W. M. wEEKs ET AL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR APPLYING BOTTLE CLOSURESFiled Jan. 11. 1926 2 Sheets-Shet 2 Patented Dec. 13, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALLACE M. WEEKS AND JOHN A. PEASE, OF SKANEATELES NEW FORK.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR APPLYING BOTTLE CLOSURES.

Application filed January 11, 1926. Serial No. 80,587.

This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for applying milkbottle closures, and the primary object thereof is to facilitate andsimplify the application thereof to the filled bottles.

Briefly, the invention proposes to employ caps secured to and in spacedorder along a continuous strip of material hghter than that of the caps,and to feed such strips over the mouths of the filled bottles, and tothen force the cap within the bottle month by means of a male die orplunger and at the same time to utilize the bead of the bottle mouth asa, die to conform that part of the paper strip surrounding the cap tothe head of the bottle mouth and to sever same from the body of thestrip, thereby to expeiditiously and economically apply the caps to thebottle mouths. y

In the drawings t Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in sect onillustrating a means for practising the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing the placementof the cap and the flange;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the strip;

Fig. 4 is a section on line 44 of Fig. 3, and

Fig. 5 is a detail view partly in section showing a step in themanufacture of the disk-carrying strip.

It is to be expressly understood that the drawings are merelyillustrative of the punciple of the invention and accordingly show, byway of example, one manner in which the invention may be practlced.

In the manufacture of the stock, a strip of paper 1 is employed which isof tough, but light gage paper and which 15 of breadth slightly greaterthan the dlameter of the disks 2, which latter are secured to the strip1 at regular predetermined or spaced intervals throughout the length ofthe strip. The strip of paper is preferably initially perforatedincircular formation as at 1 the circles being of greater diameter thanthe disks 2 thereby forming annular flanges 2 that surround the disks.The side edge parts of the strips are also provided with rows of spacedperforations 9. The disks may be secured by adhesive or may be stapledor otherwise secured to the strip in any suitable manner for thepurpose. Simultaneously with securement of the disks to the paper stripor subsequent to such securement, a ram or plunger 3 of an areaconforming to that of the disk exerts downward pressure thereon andforces the disk and therewith the part. of the strip surrounding theperiphery of the disk into the cavity 4 of a die 5 thereby offsettingsuch part of the strip and forming a circular shoulder 6. Thus formedthe strip with the attached disks are wound upon a reel 7 and are readyor may be shipped ready for use with the capping device or machine nowto be described.

By way of example, the machine ma embody a. table or platform 8 uponwhich the filled bottles ready for capping are placed. The strip 1 maybe fed by means of the spaced perforations 9 which extend throughout itslength and receive therethrough pins or projections 10 on a feed wheel11 which latter may be rotated in any desired manner to effect regulablefeed of the strip 1 over the mouths of the bottles. lVhen a cap is inregister with the bottle mouth a sleeve 12 tensioned by a spring 12descends, the sleeve having a head 13 of the same configuration as thatof the upper arc of the bead B of the bottle mouth so as to conformablybut lightly hold the flange 2 of the strip engaged with the upper arc ofthe bead. Immediately following this movement of the sleeve a plunger 14slidable within the sleeve enters into action. The plunger 14, which isof the same area as that of the cap, engages the latter and forces thecap and therewith the strip into engagement with the seat S in thebottle mouth. At this time, a cutter 15 enters into action and effectsfinal severance of the flange 2 from the strip, the cutter being of thesame diameter as that of the circle of perforations 1, when the strip isin operative position over the bottle. The spring 12' engages againstthe head 13 and against a ring 12' that has restricted sliding movementon-the sleeve 12. A rod 12* connected to eccentric 20 is also connectedto the ring to operate the sleeve 12. The cutter 15 is operated by meansof a rod 15 connected thereto and to eccentric 23.

The invention further contemplates the application of adhesive to thebottom face of the flange 2" prior to the latter being conformed to thebead of the bottle mouth so as to affect securement by adhesion of theflange to the bead. For this purpose a glue Ill trough 16 may beemployed into which a.

glue applying brush 17 dips and spreads glue over the paper strip 1,before the latter registers with the bottle mouth.

In the embodiment shown, the sleeve is actuated by an eccentric 20driven from shaft 21, while the plunger is similarly operated by aneccentric 22, connected to rod 14, the eccentrics being mounted on theshaft so that the sleeve first engages the strip and conforms same tothe head of the bottle mouth, following which the plunger forces thedisk into the bottle mouth and then the cutter enters into action. Thefeed wheel andthe glue applying brush remain stationary during theworking strokes of the sleeve, plunger and cutter and upon upward oridling movement of these parts, the feed wheel and brush are actuated bythe ratchet mechanism 24 to feed a fresh disk into position and at thesame time to apply adhesive to the strip.

The ratchet mechanismniay be actuated by rod 25 operated from eccentric22, while the glue applying brush may be rotated by av belt 26 drivenfrom the shaft 27 of the feed wheel 11.

What is claimed is 1. A method of applying milk bottle closures, whichresides in feeding a strip of paper, having disks fixed thereon atspaced intervals, over the bottle mouths, then in forcing the disks andthe adjacent parts of the strip surrounding the disks into the mouthsand conforming said parts over the beads of the mouths, and then insevering the said parts of the strip against the beads of the bottlemouths.

2. A method of applying milk bottle closures, which resides in feeding astrip of paper, having disks fixed thereon at spaced intervals, over thebottle mouths, applying adhesive to the under face of the strip, then inforcing the disks and the adjacent parts of the strip surrounding thedisks into the mouths and over the beads of the mouths so as to causesaid parts to conform and adhere to the head of the mouth, and then insevering the said parts of the strip against the beads of the bottlemonths 3. In a device for applying milk bottle closures composed of astrip having disks secured atspaced intervals therealong, means to feedthe strip and therewith the disks over the bottle mouth in a singleoperation, means to engage and conform the part of the strip surroundingthe disks onto the bead of the bottle mouth, means to ensever the strip.

gage the disk and force same and therewith the adjacent parts of thestrip into the mouth, and means vertically aligned with the bottle mouthto sever the strip at points about and against the head of the mouthwhile said parts of the strip are in engagement with the bottle mouth.

4. In a device for applying milk bottle closures composed of a striphaving disks secured at spaced intervals therealong, means to feed thestrip and therewith the disks over the bottle mouth in a singleoperation, means to apply adhesive to the under face of the strip, meansto engage and conform the part of the strip surrounding the disks ontothe bead of the mouth, means to engage the disk and force same andtherewith the adjacent parts of the strip into the mouth, and meansvertically alined with the bottle mouth to sever the strip at pointsabout andag'ainst the bead of the mouth.

5. A device for applying milk bottle closures which latter are composedof a strip having disks fixedly secured thereon at spaced intervals,including means to feed the strip so as to cause a disk to re 'ster withand overlie the bottle mouth'in a single operation, a sleeve formed toengage the part of the strip surrounding the disks and to force and holdsuch part in engagement with the bead of the bottle mouth, a plungerslideable in the sleeve to engage the disks and force same and therewiththe adjacent parts of the strips into the bottle mouths. and a cuttersurrounding the sleeve and engageable with the head of the mouth to 6. Adevice for applying bottle closures composed of a strip having diskssecured at spaced intervals therealong, comprising a reciprocable die, aconforming member surrounding said die to hold the adjacent parts of thestrip surrounding the disk engaged with the bottle, an annular cuttervertically aligned with the bottle mouth and surrounding the die andconforming member to sever the strip while said parts thereof areengaged with the bottle mouth, means to feed the strip beneath the dieand over the mouth of the bottle, and means adapted to move the severalmembers successively whereby to apply the cap to a bottle mouth andsever the same from'the strip at a single operation.

In testimony whereof we atfix our signatures.

WALLACE M. WEEKS. JOHN A. PEASE.

